It is heartening to know that the huge outcry concerning George Osborne’s proposal to reduce tax-relief on charitable giving has … Continue reading “Saving, not charity, is the real answer to long-term poverty”

In August 2010, the IEA published Does Britain Need a Financial Regulator? Written by Professor Philip Booth and myself, with … Continue reading “State regulation: a scourge on the financial landscape”

‘Britain is today experiencing the longest period of sustained economic growth since records began in 1701.’ Gordon Brown, Budget Speech, … Continue reading “GDP: nonsense on stilts”

‘The fundamental principles of mercantilism and neo-mercantilism are: direction of economic life by the authorities; the belief that money is … Continue reading “Mercantilism is back with a vengeance”

Bribery and corruption are back in the news, with a new Bribery Act coming into force next month. But what … Continue reading “Official views of corruption make the innocent guilty”

In 1997 Gordon Brown removed the so-called “self-regulatory” system for financial services under the Securities and Investment Board and created … Continue reading “Does Britain need a financial regulator?”

The election campaign should be bringing on another Great Depression in the minds of all taxpayers. This morning Gordon Brown continued his … Continue reading “National Insurance: taking it out or putting it in?”

Many years ago I was in hospital for a minor operation. The tiny ward had room for four but there … Continue reading “The NHS should be financing a campaign for private hospitals”

As a fellow international rugby player (who also went to a grammar school) perhaps I may be allowed to put … Continue reading “Response from Terry Arthur to Brian Moore’s Article of 9th December 2010 (Daily Telegraph)”

This book is a must for anyone with an interest in the role of government and the extent to which … Continue reading ““The Alternative Manifesto” by Eamonn Butler”

The euro is currently under intense scrutiny. Why? Because the reputation of the single currency – originally based largely on … Continue reading “The euro: will monetary union destroy national autonomy?”

One of the strangest things about this recession is surely the shameless neglect of unemployment figures by the politicos, anxious to … Continue reading “Economic recovery? Not for the workers”

In the Daily Telegraph last month, Melissa Kite wrote an amusing article about Gordon Brown’s most recent Tsars – Martha … Continue reading “Tsars for enterprise – an oxymoron”

Simon Heffer is one of the ever-dwindling number of journalists who really understand the difference between Corporatism (sometimes called State … Continue reading “David Cameron’s Big Society: State Capitalism”

Under the heading “British Film Industry in Peril”, 55 actors signed a letter of protest in The Daily Telegraph at the proposed abolition … Continue reading “Let’s hope these actors are acting!”

In 1997 Gordon Brown removed the so-called “self-regulatory” system for financial services under the Securities and Investment Board and created … Continue reading “Does Britain need a financial regulator?”

Next May there is to be a referendum, at the behest of Nick Clegg, on whether or not the UK … Continue reading “Voting for democracy – lambs to the slaughter”

" You’re gouging on your prices If you charge more than the rest But it’s unfair competition If you think … Continue reading “From barter to prices to interventionism”

The election campaign should be bringing on another Great Depression in the minds of all taxpayers. This morning Gordon Brown continued his … Continue reading “National Insurance: taking it out or putting it in?”

Many years ago I was in hospital for a minor operation. The tiny ward had room for four but there … Continue reading “The NHS should be financing a campaign for private hospitals”

This book is a must for anyone with an interest in the role of government and the extent to which … Continue reading ““The Alternative Manifesto” by Eamonn Butler”

The euro is currently under intense scrutiny. Why? Because the reputation of the single currency – originally based largely on … Continue reading “The euro: will monetary union destroy national autonomy?”

Most people view the “democratic deficit” as imperfections in the way that voters’ wishes are communicated to governments (and governments’ … Continue reading “The real democratic deficit”

In his four years as leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron has often seemed to embrace socialist ideas.  “Sharing … Continue reading “Can Cameron roll back the state?”

One of the strangest things about this recession is surely the shameless neglect of unemployment figures by the politicos, anxious to … Continue reading “Economic recovery? Not for the workers”

In the Daily Telegraph last month, Melissa Kite wrote an amusing article about Gordon Brown’s most recent Tsars – Martha … Continue reading “Tsars for enterprise – an oxymoron”

In the past few weeks UK politics has rightly been dominated by The Telegraph’s revelations about MPs’ expense claims. Meanwhile … Continue reading “The arts – a welfare state in reverse”

In his recent article in The Spectator, David Cameron tells us that “the public must be given a core reason … Continue reading “Cameron’s “post-bureaucratic age””

Adam Smith’s ‘agency problem’, the separation of ownership from control, enables big-business executives and directors to pursue their own agenda. … Continue reading “Banking on corporatism”

So Alan Milburn is back, allegedly to deal with ‘social mobility’, no less. Here we have yet another example of … Continue reading “Social mobility’ and all that”

On 9th October, Anatole Kaletsky, Associate Editor of The Times, wrote “Banking crises have never been resolved purely by market … Continue reading “The press has managed to ignore the facts, the history and the economics of banking”

David Cameron and George Osborne may be shifting on “sharing the proceeds of growth” but they can’t bring themselves to … Continue reading “Taxation is a black hole”

Dr DeAnne Julius’s recent review of the UK Public Services Industry (PSI) tells us that the outsourcing of government services … Continue reading “Outsourcing public services: a good deal for taxpayers?”